Church of Saint Eirene

church, Istanbul, Turkey

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July 13, 2026

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The Church of Saint Eirene, dedicated to "Divine Peace," is a significant Byzantine church located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was originally built by Emperor Constantine in 325 CE on the foundations of a pagan temple and was later enlarged and rebuilt by his successors. This church shared clergy with the nearby Hagia Sophia and is considered one of the largest Byzantine churches. While much of its original structure remains, it has undergone several restorations throughout history. The church played a role in the religious history of the Byzantine Empire, particularly concerning the use of icons.12

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Western architecture
The early Byzantine period (330–726)
…Bacchus, a centralized building; the church of St. Eirene (Irene), a basilica roofed by two domes in echelon (i.e., parallel-stepped arrangement); the church of the Holy Apostles, which was cruciform, with a dome at the crossing and another on each of the arms of the cross; and, finally, the great…
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…Bacchus, a centralized building; the church of St. Eirene (Irene), a basilica roofed by two domes in echelon (i.e., parallel-stepped arrangement); the church of the Holy Apostles, which was cruciform, with a dome at the crossing and another on each of the arms of the cross; and, finally, the great…
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exedra
Irene.
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Irene.
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